Chapter 18 - THE MONEY VICTORIA TOOK
Victoria did not deny it.
That made it worse.
Four years earlier, before she stopped working with Martin completely, she had moved $400,000 out of one of his shell accounts.
She told herself she was taking back part of Elise’s stolen inheritance.
She put the money into an investment account under another name.
Then she never spent it.
Not one dollar.
“That is supposed to make me feel better?” I asked.
“No.”
“Where is it?”
“Still there.”
“Why didn’t you return it?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of Martin?”
“Of prison.”
Another ugly honest answer.
Victoria handed Ruiz the account information.
The money had grown to $463,000.
All of it was frozen and later transferred back pending restitution orders.
The prosecutor added potential theft and money laundering counts to Victoria’s case.
Her attorney nearly quit.
I sat beside her in the hallway outside the interview room.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
Finally she said, “You can hate me.”
“I don’t.”
That made her look at me.
“I wish I did,” I said.
Her eyes filled.
“That would be easier.”
She nodded.
I stared at the floor tiles.
“Do you understand that I cannot trust anything you tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Even when you are telling the truth.”
“Yes.”
“That may never come back.”
“I know.”
This time I let her say it.
Then my phone rang.
Hospital.
I answered.
The nurse did not waste words.
“Mr. Ashford, your mother is asking for you. You should come now.”
I stood.
Victoria stood too.
“Can I—”
“No.”
The answer hurt her.
It hurt me too.
But it was mine to give.
I drove to the hospital alone.
When I entered Florence’s room, she looked at me and smiled.
“You look awful,” she whispered.
“So do you.”
“Good. We’re finally being honest.”
Then she reached for my hand.
“I need you to promise me one thing before I go.”
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